2016 Georgia Football game-by-game previews and predictions

Oct. 29     vs. Florida

Players to Watch: CB Jalen Tabor, LB Jarrad Davis, WR Antonio Callaway

Preview: Jim McElwain did a simply outstanding job at Florida last year. He took a 7-5 Gators team that was at a low point to a 10-2 regular season record and an SEC Championship appearance in his first season at the Florida helm in 2015. For his magnificent coaching job, he won SEC Coach of the Year honors last year.

This year he loses some talent off a defense that was one of the nation’s best last year, but the unit should still be very good and the strong suit of the Gators. The main thing that will hold Florida back this year is their brutal schedule. They might be as good or better this year than they were last year, but the record will probably not show it.

The Gators defense like aforementioned should be one of the best in the country again next year. The unit is led by a strong defensive line led by ends Bryan Cox Jr. and CeCe Jefferson and Caleb Brantley and Joey Ivie on the interior. Arguably the best player on this side of the ball is outside linebacker Jarrad Davis. Davis is the top returning tackler on the team as he registered 92 tackles, four sacks and an interception in 2015.

The best position group on this Gators’ football team has to be the secondary. Despite losing two stars in Vernon Hargreaves and Keanu Neal to the NFL, the unit is loaded with returning talent headlined by Jalen Tabor, Quincy Wilson and Marcus Maye.

Defense has not been a problem for Florida over the past several years; it has been the offense. Florida’s offense was simply anemic during the Will Muschamp days, and that is one reason a coach with an offensive background in Jim McElwain was brought in to replace him.

The offense looked to be back on track early in 2015 with Will Grier at quarterback, but Grier was kicked off the team for PED use, and Treon Harris took over at QB. Harris was a disaster at quarterback and has since left the program (which is a blessing to anyone who watches SEC football). The offense was awful with him at the reins particularly at the tail-end of the season.

This season, McElwain hopes to make the offense at least decent again but found himself in a quarterback battle. However, it was announced Thursday that Luke Del Rio will take over the starting QB job, and Gator fans have a reason to be optimistic as he performed very well in the spring game and looked poised.

Unfortunately for the Gators, they need some playmakers to step up on that side of the ball besides electric wide receiver Antonio Callaway. Kelvin Taylor is gone at running back, but Florida has high hopes that sophomore Jordan Scarlett will step up to the plate.

Bottom Line: Florida has been UGA’s constant thorn in their side ever since the Steve Spurrier days, and that will not change this year. Florida has beaten Georgia over two straight years despite having Treon Harris at QB each time.

Florida should be improved on offense this year, and their defense should be as good. They also have a kicker now in Eddy Pineiro who has an unreal leg. So if the game were to come down to a UF late-game field goal situation, UGA would undoubtably be screwed. I think Smart will ultimately turn this rivalry around but not this year. The 2016 edition of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party should be a good one though.

Prediction: Florida 28-Georgia 24

Next: Nov. 5 @Kentucky